Variable position guide vane actuation system and method

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a turbine variable position guide vane actuation system. The system includes, a plurality of variable position guide vanes, a plurality of actuators and each actuator is in operable communication with one of the plurality of variable position guide vanes, and at least one structure in operable communication with a plurality of the plurality of actuators and movable parallel to an axis of the turbine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed invention relates to a system and method for actuatingvariable position guide vanes in a turbine engine. More specifically theinvention relates to actuating the variable position guide vanes bymoving a structure in operable communication with a plurality of thevariable position guide vanes.

Aerodynamic efficiency of the vanes of a turbine engine is an importantfactor in the overall operational efficiency of the engine. Operatorsrotate the vanes in an attempt to improve the aerodynamic performance atdifferent power settings of the turbine. Systems and methods to improveprecision and control of rotation of the multitude of vanes in a turbineengine is of value to operators in the industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is a turbine variable position guide vane actuationsystem. The system includes, a plurality of variable position guidevanes, a plurality of actuators and each actuator is in operablecommunication with one of the plurality of variable position guidevanes, and at least one structure in operable communication with aplurality of the plurality of actuators and movable parallel to an axisof the turbine.

Further disclosed herein is a method of actuating a plurality of turbinevariable position guide vanes. The method includes, moving a structurein a direction parallel to an axis of a turbine and rotating a pluralityof turbine variable position guide vanes in operable communication withthe structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following descriptions should not be considered limiting in any way.With reference to the accompanying drawings, like elements are numberedalike:

FIG. 1 depicts a partial perspective view of a turbine variable positionguide vane actuation system disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 depicts a cross sectional view of a portion of the turbinevariable position guide vane actuation system of FIG. 1 taken alongarrows 2-2;

FIG. 3 depicts a partial perspective view of an alternate variableposition guide vane actuation system disclosed herein; and

FIG. 4 depicts a partial perspective view of another alternate variableposition guide vane actuation system disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the disclosedapparatus and method are presented herein by way of exemplification andnot limitation with reference to the Figures.

Turbine engines, such as, gas turbine engines for power generation, forexample, have stationary guide vanes and rotating guide vanes.Compressed air flows past both types of guide vanes during operation ofthe turbine. Performance of the turbine can vary depending upon, amongother things, angles of the stationary guide vanes. During differentoperating conditions, however, different guide vane angles may bepreferred. As such, having guide vanes, wherein angles of the vanes arevariable, has benefits to the turbine operator. Systems and methods foradjusting the variable guide vanes are described in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a turbine variable position guidevane actuation system 10 disclosed herein is illustrated. The system 10includes, a plurality of variable position guide vanes 14 with anactuator 18, depicted herein as a lever, attached to each one of thevariable position guide vanes 14, and at least one structure 22,depicted herein as a plate, engaged with a plurality of the levers 18.The plate 22 is configured to be moved in a direction parallel to anaxis of the turbine 26 to cause rotational motion of each of the levers18, engaged therewith, and consequently to rotate the variable positionguide vanes 14 attached thereto.

Referring to FIG. 2, a cross sectional view through one of the variableposition guide vanes 14, the lever 18 and the plate 22, of FIG. 1, alongarrows 2-2, is shown. A bearing 30 rotationally, mounts each of thevariable position guide vanes 14 to a casing 34 of the turbine 26. A pin38 extends from each of the levers 18 to engage with a slot 42 of theplate 22. Optionally, a sleeve 46 can be rotationally engaged with eachof the pins 38 to reduce frictional engagement between the pins 38 andwalls 50 of the slots 42.

By moving the plates 22 parallel to an axis of the turbine 26, thelateral or radial instability (as the case may be), that occurs intypical systems that have the plate 22 move circumferentially withrespect to the turbine 26, can be reduced. In addition to decreasingfriction between the sleeve 46 and the plate 22, in comparison totypical systems, embodiments disclosed herein can more easily controlthe precision of the rotational motion of the variable position guidevanes 14. This ease of control is due to a reduced offset between thelinear motion of the plate 22 and the rotational motion of the variableposition guide vanes 14, as compared to a circumferential motion of aplate. This control precision can be maintained in alternate embodimentsas will be described below.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment of a turbine variableposition guide vane actuation system 210 with a plate 222 disclosedherein is illustrated. Unlike the plate 22 shown above that functionallyengages with just a few levers 18, the plate 222 forms a ringperimetrically around a significant portion of the turbine 26. In fact,the plate 222 can be a continuous ring that encircles the casing 34 andactuates all of the levers 18, or be segmented to actuate any selectednumber of levers 18 desired. For assembly and removal purposes splittingthe plate 222 into at least two portions, with each encirclingapproximately half of the casing 34, may be advantageous.

Referring to FIG. 4, yet another alternate embodiment of a turbinevariable position guide vane actuation system 310 with plates 322disclosed herein is illustrated. The plates 322 are a variation of thestructures 22. The plates 322 are configured to actuate levers 18 onmultiple stages simultaneously. The plates 322, actuate variableposition guide vanes 14 from different stages 312A, 312B and 312C of theturbine 26. Such a “ganged” system can significantly simplify thelinkages required to actuate a multitude of the variable position guidevanes 14 at once. Two or more stages can be “ganged” together formingone or more “gangs,” for example. This variation of the “ganged” systemcan also be used for the plates 222.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplaryembodiment or embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substitutedfor elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention.In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particularsituation or material to the teachings of the invention withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosedas the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but thatthe invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe claims. Also, in the drawings and the description, there have beendisclosed exemplary embodiments of the invention and, although specificterms may have been employed, they are unless otherwise stated used in ageneric and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation,the scope of the invention therefore not being so limited. Moreover, theuse of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order orimportance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used todistinguish one element from another. Furthermore, the use of the termsa, an, etc. do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotethe presence of at least one of the referenced item.

1. A turbine variable position guide vane actuation system, comprising:a plurality of variable position guide vanes; a plurality of actuatorswith each actuator being in operable communication with one of theplurality of variable position guide vanes; and at least one structurein operable communication with a plurality of the plurality of actuatorsbeing movable parallel to an axis of the turbine.
 2. The turbinevariable position guide vane actuation system of claim 1, wherein the atleast one structure includes a plurality of pins, each pin being inoperable communication with an actuator.
 3. The turbine variableposition guide vane actuation system of claim 2, wherein each pin has asleeve rotationally mounted thereto.
 4. The turbine variable positionguide vane actuation system of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality ofactuators includes a slot receptive of one of the plurality of pins. 5.The turbine variable position guide vane actuation system of claim 1,wherein the at least one structure is arcuate shaped and issubstantially concentric with a casing of the turbine.
 6. The turbinevariable position guide vane actuation system of claim 1, whereinmovement of the at least one structure in a direction parallel to anaxis of the turbine causes rotation of each of the actuators in operablecommunication therewith.
 7. The turbine variable position guide vaneactuation system of claim 6, wherein rotation of each of the actuatorscauses rotation of one of the variable position guide vanes in operablecommunication therewith.
 8. The turbine variable position guide vaneactuation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of actuators are aplurality of levers.
 9. The turbine variable position guide vaneactuation system of claim 1, wherein the at least one structure is atleast one plate.
 10. The turbine variable position guide vane actuationsystem of claim 1, wherein the plurality of variable position guidevanes are from more than one stage of the turbine.
 11. The turbinevariable position guide vane actuation system of claim 1, wherein aplurality of actuators in operable communication with one of the atleast one structure are in operable communication with variable positionguide vanes from more than one stage of the turbine.
 12. A method ofactuating a plurality of turbine variable position guide vanes,comprising: moving a structure in a direction parallel to an axis of aturbine; and rotating a plurality of turbine variable position guidevanes in operable communication with the structure.
 13. The method ofactuating a plurality of turbine variable position guide vanes of claim12, further comprising: rotating a plurality of actuators in operablecommunication with the structure; and rotating the plurality of turbinevariable position guide vanes in operable communication with theplurality of actuators.